

■S33 RULES 



OF THE 



SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 

AND 

REGULATIONS 



OF THE 



PUBLIC SCH^0t:l\f> 



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IN THE 



CITY OF SALEI'S^ 



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'MoipU'b 1854. 
SALEM: 

PRINTED AT THE OBSERVER OFFICE. 
1854. 




RULES 



OP THE 



^n7/0^^^GEOOL COMMITTEE, 



AND 



OF 


THE 


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THE 



PUBLIC SCHOOLS 







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uohEOUS^^' 



aiiopteb 185L 



SALEM: 

PRINTED AT THE OBSERVER OFFICE. 

1854. 






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GENERAL REGULATIONS. 



CHAPTER I. 

Organization of the Board. 

Section 1. The Board being constituted, under the provisions of the 
City Charter, of so many members as the City Council shall see fit 
annually to elect, in addition to the Mayor and President of the Common 
Council, who are ex officio members, it is deemed necessary, for the 
organization of the Board in conformity to the Regiilations hereby 
established, that the number of members to be elected by the City 
Council shall not be less than eighteen. 

Sec. 2. The Mayor shall be Chairman, the President of the Common 
Council shall be Vice Chairman, the City Clex-k shall be Clerk, and 
the City Messenger shall be Messenger of the Board. 

Sec. 3. In the absence of both the Chairman and Vice Chairman, 
the Board shall elect a Chairman pro tempore. 

Sec. 4. In addition to the above named officers, there shall be an 
Executive Committee, and three Visiting Committees. 

CHAPTER II. 

Duties of Officers. 

Sec. 1. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Board, 
shall receive all communications, and shall sign all documents in their 
behalf. He shall be authorised to call special meetings of the Board, 
and shall be required to do so upon the request of any three members. 
He shall always call a special meeting as soon aa may be after the 
election of the members, for the purpose of organization. 

It shall be the duty of the Chairman to bring before the Board, from 
time to time, whatever business may require their attention, as 
arising under these regulations or otherwise. 



In the absence of the Chairman, his powers and duties shall devolve 
upon the Vice Chairman ; and in the absence of both, upon the 
Chairman pro tempore to be elected by the Board. 

The general povpers and duties of the Chairman shall be the same as 
those of the President of the Common Council, as defined by the rules 
of that Board. 

Sec. 2. The Chairman and Vice Chairman shall attend the annual 
examinations, to the end that, as the representatives of the two Boards 
of the City Council, they may be well informed of the state of the 
Schools. 

Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the Clerk to keep a faithful record of 
all the votes and doings of the Board and of the several Committees, to 
preserve files of all communications addressed to the Board, and of all 
Keports of Committees ; to copy into the Record all such documents as 
the Board may direct ; to notify all meetings of the Board, and of the 
Executive and Visiting Committees, by causing a printed notification 
to be left by the Messenger at the place of residence of each member ; 
to keep a separate record of all accounts passed by the Board ; and 
generally to perform the services appropriate to his office, so far as the 
same shall be required by the Board, or the several Committees. 

Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the Messenger to take charge of the 
room assigned to the Board in the City Hall, to cause the same to be 
always in readiness, and to bo suitably lighted and heated for the 
meetings of the Board and of the several Committees, to deliver all 
notifications, documents and messages ; to distribute the Quarterly 
Returns of the Teachers, and the Quarterly Reports of the Visiting- 
Committees ; and generally to perform all services appropriate to his 
office, accordingly as he may be directed by the Chairman, Clerk, or 
any member of the several Committees. 

CHAPTER III. 

Executive Committee. 

Sec. 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chairman and 
Vice Chairman of the Board, and the Chairmen of the several Visiting 
Committees. 

Sec 2, The duties of the Executive Committee shall be as follows : 

1. To prepare, and cause to be printed and distributed, blank forms 
for the quarterly Returns of the Principals, and the quarterly and an- 
nual Reports of the Visiting Committees, and to prepare the Annual 
Report and the Annual Return required by law to be transmitted to the 
Secretary of the Commonwealth. 

2. To consider and report upon the expediency of building new 
school-houses, and of altering or repairing those already built, and to 



superintend the erection of school-houses, and all special alterations 
and repairs which may be authorized by the Board. 

3. To provide for all slight repairs which may require immediate 
attention, for the appointment of suitable persons to take charge of the 
school-houses at such rates of compensation as shall be authorized by 
the Baard, for the supply of fuel and ink, and of the necessary articles 
of school furniture and stationery. 

4. To procure all such Books for the use of scholars as it becomes 
necessary to furnish at the espense-of the city. 

5. To receive and audit all accounts against the Board, and to cause 
a roll of such accounts as may have been examined and approved by 
them to be laid before the Board at each regular meetino-. 

6. To prepare and report estimates of all appropriations which may 
be required for the use of the School Committee, and to present the 
same, when approved by the Board, for the consideration of the City 
Council. 

7. To investigate, whenever presented by any member of a Visitino- 
Committee, the complaints of parents, masters or guardians ao-ainsfc 
teachers for undue severity or neglect in the treatment of scholars ; and 
in all such cases, if, upon investigation and a hearing of both parties, 
the complaint should prove to be well founded, and the complainant 
desires further action, to report thereon to the Board. 

8. To decide upon the application of teachers and scholars to be 
relieved from the enforcement of the regulations in extraoi-dinary cases, 
in which the application is accompanied by the recommendation of a 
member of a Visiting Committee. 

9. To devise and recommend, in their annual or special reports, all 
such measures as they shall deem adapted to promote the economy, 
efficiency and advancement of the system of public instruction. 

Sec. 3. The Annual Eeport shall include all copies or extracts of the 
Annual Reports of the Visiting Committees, with such omissions, and 
such additional statements or remarks as the Executive Committee may 
deem necessary, and shall be presented to the Board in sufficient season 
to be laid before the City Council, and duly transmitted to the Secre- 
tary of the Commonwealth. 

Sec. 4. The Executive Committee shall regularly meet once in each 
month, at such times as they may appoint ; and shall hold special 
meetings whenever the Chairman, at his own instance, or upon the 
request of any member, shall direct the Clerk to notify the same ; and 
at all meetings the presence of three members shall be required to consti- 
tute a quorum. 



6 

CHAPTER IV. 

Visiting Committees. 

Sec. 1. As soon as may be after the annual organization, the Board 
shall be divided into three. Visiting Committees in such manner that 
each elective member of the Board may be a member of one of the 
Visiting Committee. 

The First Visiting Committee shall consist of three or more memberg , 
who shall have the care of the Fisk, Bowditch, and Saltonstall 
iSchools. 

The Second Visiting Committee shall consist of seven or more members, 
who shall have the care of the Epes, Browne, Pickering, Hacker, Hig- 
GiNSON, Phillips, and Bentley Schools. 

The Third Visiting Cmmniltee shall consist of eight or more members, 
who shall have the care of the Primary Schools, which shall be ar- 
ranged into such divisions as the Visiting Committee may deem 
expedient. 

Sec. 2. The several Visiting Committees, as soon as may be after 
their appointment, shall elect Chairmen by ballot, and the Chairmen 
thus elected, shall be duly recognized as members of the Executive 
Committee. 

Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of each member to maintain a constant 
oversight of the school or division of schools placed under his charge ; 
and for this purpose, he shall visit the school or schools " at least once in 
each month, without giving previous twiice to the teacher," in conformity to 
the law of the Commonwealth. The object of such visits shall be to 
obtain a full knowledge of the organization of the schools, the state of 
discipline, the method of instruction, the condition of the school-houses, 
out-houses and fences, and generally of all causes in operation affecting 
the welfare of the schools, which deserve to be especially noticed, either 
byway of praise or cerisure. He shall examine the schools or divisions 
of schools under his care, during the last week of the terms ending in 
May, August and November. At the close of each term he shall 
examine and approve the Quarterly Return prepared by the Principal, 
and shall prepare the Quarterly Report to be annexed thereto, in the 
form prescribed by the Executive Committee. He shall also append to 
the report such statements and suggestions as he may deem entitled to 
the consideration of the Visiting Committee ; and especially he shall 
always express an opinion in regard to the manner in which the several 
teachers have performed their duties during the term. He shall deliver 
the quarterly Report together with the Quarterly Return to tlie Messen- 
ger, to be carried to the Chairman of the Visiting Committee. He 
shall not consider himself restricted to the schools under his special 




charge, but shall consider it his duty to visit other schools as his 
convenience may permit. 

It shall also be the duty of each member, in reference to the school or 
division of schools under his charge, to give his advice to the teachers 
in any emergency, to make careful inquiry into every case of miscon- 
duct formally reported by a Principal, to confer with the parent, master 
or guardian of the offending scholar, in relation thereto, and adjudge 
the penalty to which, in every such case, the offending scholar shall be 
subjected. In every cage thus formally reported, his decision shall be 
given in writing, and shall be subject to the revision of the Board, upon 
the application either of the parent, master or guardian of the offending 
scholar, or of the teacher. 

It shall also be the duty of each member, in reference to the school 
or division of schools under his charge, to receive the complaints of 
parents, masters or guardians against teachers for undue severity or 
neglect in the treatment of scholars, and to present such complaint to 
the Executive Committee, whenever he shall deem the same of sufficient 
importance to require investigation. ,._,.-- 

Sec. 4. The Chairmen of the several Visitipg-;^CoYi'@tRei^.sK^ir.*^ 
required to appoint and to attend the annual examinations,,^.of all the 
schools under their charge in the month of February, and to prepare 
reports thereon. These examinations shall be conducted in such a 
manner as the several Visiting Committees may decide. 

The Chairmen of the several Visiting Comniitteg§ shall direct, the^- 
clerk to send a printed notice of the day and place appoiated for- each 
annual examination, to each member of the Board, to the Principal of 
every school, and to every member of the City Council ; and shall 
further cause a copy of the notice to be published in the newspapers, for 
the information of parents of scholars, and the citizens at large. 

Sec. 5. The annual Reports, required to be prepared by the respective 
Chairmen of the Visiting Committee, shall be laid before the Visiting 
Committees, at meetings to be held as soon as may be after the exami- 
nations in the several Divisions have been completed. Each report shall 
embrace in a succinct form all the information which may have been 
collected, and all suggestions which are deemed important in relation to 
each school. 

The annual Reports, thus prepared by the Chairmen, shall, as soon 
as they are presented, be read and carefully considered by the Visiting 
Committees. All such portions as they may deem it important to 
communicate to the teachers generally, shall be communicated at a joint 
meeting of the Visiting Committee and teachers called for the purpose ; 
and in relation to such portions of the Reports, the teachers shall be 
invited to make such oral or written suggestions as they may deem 



expedient, and all such suggestions shall afterwards be specially consid- 
ered by the Visiting Committee. All such portions of the Kcports as 
may be deemed to require special action in regard to individual teachers 
shall be communicated in written copies to the individuals concerned, 
and the action of the Visiting Committee shall be suspended until such 
teachers shall have the opportunity of preparing written replies, which 
replies shall be filed with the Reports, and shall be duly considered 
whenever the subject is acted upon, alike in the first instance by the 
Visiting Committee; and finally by the Board. After the annual 
Reports have been thus considered and referred to the teachers generally 
or individually, they shall together with the communications of the 
teachers, be laid before the Board, and shall be accompanied by such 
recommendations, in the shape of Resolutions or otherwise, as the Vis- 
iting Committees may have concurred in. 

Sec. 6. In addition to the duties specially enjoined upon the individ- 
ual members of the Visiting Committees and their Chairmen, the 
general duties for each Visiting Committee shall be as follows, viz : 

1. To prepare and submit to the Board such Special Rules as they 
may deem necessary to secure the uniform and most effective instruction 
and discipline of the schools under their care ; 

2. To recommend such Text-Books, Writing-Books, Maps and 
Apparatus as they deem it expedient to introduce into the schools undei- 
their care, in the place of and in addition to those which are already in 
use ; and to consider and report upon every proposition in relation to 
these subjects which may have been submitted at a meeting of the 
Board ; 

3. To prescribe the form of Records and Class Books to be kept in 
the several schools under their care. 

CHAPTER V. 

Meetings of the Board. 

Sec. 1. The Board shall meet regularly on the third Monday of 
every month, at such an hour as the Chairman shall appoint. 

One third of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction 
of business. 

Sec. 2. At each meeting, the Board shall come to order precisely at 
the time appointed, when, after reading the record of the preceding 
meeting, the list of members shall be called by the Clerk, who shall 
record the names both of the absentees and members present. 

Sec. 3. The yeas and nays shall be ordered upon any question, 
■whenever called for by three members. 

Sect. 4. All questions of order which may arise, shall be decided in 
conformity to the rules and usages of the Common Council. 



9 

Sect. 5. All propositions involving a change in the General Regula- 
tions shall be referred to the Executive Committee, and all propositions 
involving a change in the Special Rules shall be referred to the 
appropriate Visiting Committee. 

Sect. 6. Special Committees may, at the option of the Board, be 
appointed to consider and report upon any proposition, that, by these 
regulations are referable to the regular Standing Committees. 

CHAPTER VI. 

Organization of Schools. 

Sec. 1 . The Fisk School shall be devoted to the preparation of boys 
for College, and shall be under the care of a male Principal. 

Candidates for admission to the Eisk School shall be examined on the 
first Monday of September, and a^t no other time, except for reasons 
satisfactory to the Principal and Sub-Committee. 

Candidates will be required to produce certificates, from parents or 
guardians, of their having attained the age of ten years, and of good 
moral character from their former teachers. 

They will be required to write a good running hand, to read correctly 
and fluently from common English authors, to spell all words of com- 
mon occurrence, to have a knowledge of punctuation, and of the rudi- 
ments of English grammar. 

They will also be reqiiired to pass a satisfactory examination in 
" Smith's Quarto Geography," (or an equivalent,) and in the first 
eighty-two articles in " Putnam's Arithmetic," (or an equivalent.) 

The course of studies shall include all the branches required for 
admission into Harvard University, and also reading, writing, English 
grammar, English composition, and declamation. 

Sec. 2. The Bowditch and Saltonstall Schools shall be regarded as 
Schools of the First Grade, and shall be devoted to the instruction of 
boys and girls in the higher studies which can be conveniently pursued 
during a term of three years, after completing the studies required in 
the schools of the Second Grade. The Bowditch School shall be 
appropriated to boys, and the Saltonstall School to girls. 

Candidates for admission to the Bowditch and Saltonstall High 
Schools, shall be examined during the week preceding the first Monday 
in March, and at no other time, unless it shall plainly appear that 
their attendance on the appointed day was prevented by sickness or 
other unavoidable contingency. 

This, however, shall not be construed to preclude the examination of 
such candidates as present themselves for an advanced standing. 
o 



10 

No pupil shall be admitted to the Bowditch or Saltonstall School who 
has not reached the age of twelve years ; and a written certificate of 
this fact will be required of the Parent or Guardian. 

Each candidate shall be required to present, when called for by the 
Examining Committee, a certificate of good moral character from his or 
her last instructor, and shall pass a satisfactory examination in 
Spelling, Reading, (including the theory of Punctuation,) Writing, 
English Grammar, first 158 pages of Putnam's Arithmetic, Modern 
Geography, and the History of the United States. 

The examination shall be conducted by the Principal of the re- 
spective High Schools, assisted by the Sub-Committees of his School, 
whose duty it shall be to be present on the occasion. 

The examination shall be strict, and a thorough knowledge of the re- 
quired studies, according to the books used in their respective Schools, 
shall be indispensable to admission. 

Any boy or girl belonging to the city, who has been previously 
educated .in a private school and shall bring from his or her last 
instructor a certificate of good moral character and of presumed qualifi- 
cations, and who, after a thorough examination in the studies pursued 
in the Schools of the Second Grade, shall be deemed fully qualified, may 
also be a candidate. 

No candidate shall be examined, who does not intend to join the 
school, if found qualified for admission. 

Every scholar will be entitled to receive a Diploma, who shall have 
completed the course ofrequired studies in a manner satisfactory to the 
Committee and Teachers of the School. 

Each school shall be divided into three classes, to be denominated re- 
spectively the Junior Class, the Middle Class, and the Senior Class. The 
Junior Class shall consist of such scholars as have recently been admitted 
in conformity to the requirements of this section. The Middle Class 
shall consist of such scholars as have regularly completed the studies of 
the Junior Class. The Senior Class shall consist of such scholars as 
have regularly completed the studies of the Junior and Middle Classes. 
The course of studies for each class shall continue during one year 
ending with the annual examination in February. 

If it shall appear, at the close of any term that any members of these 
schools," from neglect in their studies or from any other cause, in 
he j udgment of the Principal and Visiting Committee, are disqualified 
for advancement, such members shall be transferred to a lower class, 
or to the Grammar Schools. 

The course of studies shall include Reading and Grammar, Rhetoric 
and Composition, Geography and History, Natural History, Chemistry, 
Political and Moral Science, Arithmetic and Book-Keeping, Algebra and 



11 

Geometry, Practical Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, together 
with Writing and Drawing. 

Declamation may be introduced into the Bowditch School, at the 
option of the Visiting Committee. 

Sec. 3. The Phillips, Hacker, Higginson, Bentlet, Pickering, 
Browne and Epes Schools shall be regarded as Schools of the Second 
Grade, and shall be devoted to the instruction of boys and girls in 
Spelling, Reading, Writing, Drawing, Vocal Music, English Grammar, 
Composition, Geography, History, Arithmetic. The elements of Geom- 
etry, Algebra, Book Keeping and Moral Science may be taught at the op- 
tion of the Visiting Committee. For admission into these schools the pupil 
shall be required to read at first sight easy prose ; to spell common words 
of one or two syllables ; to distinguish the several marks of punctuation 
by their respective names, and to have a general idea of their use ; to 
perform mentally such simple questions in addition, subtraction, and 
division, as are contained in Tower's Arithmetic ; to answer readily to 
any proposed combination of the Multiplication Table, in which neither 
factor exceeds 12 ; to pass a satisfactory Examination in the first forty 
pages of Smith's Primary Geography, to read and write Arabic numbers 
containing three figures, and the Roman numerals as far as the sign for 
one hundred ; and to enunciate clearly and accurately the elementary 
sounds of our language. 

Children from other schools than the Public Primaries may bo admit- 
ted upon the same conditions. 

The examination shall be on the first Monday of JMarch . 

Applicants may be admitted at any other time during the year when 
it is made to appear that the applic;^ut could not attend at the regular 
time for admission, and is qualified to join one of the classes. 

The number of Teachers to be assigned to each school, and the 
boundaries of each district, shall be fixed from time to time as the 
Visiting Committee may decide. 

Interjiediate Schools. 

Sec 4. The Intermediate School shall receive scholars of nine years 
and upwards who shall not be qualified for admission to the Grammar 
Schools. 

Pklmary Schools. 

Sec. 5. The Primary Schools shall be open for the admission of all 
children belonging to the city, who shall be between the ages of four 
and nine. 

The object of the Primary Schools shall be to secure the simplest and 
most thorough elementary instruction in Spelling, Reading, Writing, 
Drawing, Vocal Music, Arithmetic and Geography; and for this purpose 



12 

to make constant use of black-boards and visible illustrations as -well 
as text-books ; to cultivate the morals of the children by inculcating 
good rules and maxims for the regulation of their daily conduct ; and 
to promote their health and hapjoiness by regular, frequent, and suit- 
able exercise and recreation. 

CHAPTER VII. 

Appointment, Duties and Salaries of Teachers. 

Sect. 1. In July annually all the Principals of the Public Schools 
shall be elected. The Principals of the Latin, High and Grammar 
Schools, shall be elected by ballot, and all other teachers shall be elected 
on nomination of their respective Visiting Committees. A majority of 
the votes shall in all cases be necessary to a choice. 

Sec. 2. Whenever a vacancy shall occur in the Office of Principal of 
any other than a Primary or Intermediate School, it shall be the duty 
of the Clerk to cause an advertisement to be inserted in one or more 
newspapers printed in Salem (and elsewhere if deemed expedient) stating 
the studies prescribed for the school and the salary attached to the 
office, and specifying the time at which persons desirous of being candi- 
dates may present applications in writing, together with written testi- 
monial of their education and success in teaching, and may also be in 
attendance for the purpose of being examined in conformity to the law 
of the Commonwealth. The Chairman of the Visiting Committee, in 
connection with the member having special charge of the school, shall 
conduct the examination, and shall make all such inquiries as may be 
deemed necessary, with a view to ascertain the relative merits of the 
diffijrent candidates, and the results of the examination and of such in- 
quiries shall be reported to the Board together with the applications and 
testimonials. Upon receiving such Report, the Board shall proceed by 
ballot to make an appointment, of which due notice shall be given by 
the Clerk to the person appointed. 

Sec. 3. Whenever a vacancy shall occcur in the office of a Sub- 
principal or Assistant in any school, it shall be the duty of the 
Chairman of the Visiting Committee having the care of the school, in 
concurrence with the member having special charge of the school, and 
the Principal, to nominate to the said Visiting Committee such candi- 
date or candidates, as after proper inquiry and a regular examination, 
they shall in concurrence adjudge to be suitably qualified for the appoint- 
ment. Whenever a vacancy shall occur in the office of Principal of a Pri- 
mary or Intermediate School, it shall be the duty of the Chairman of the 
Third Visiting Committee, in concurrence with the member having spe- 
cial charge of the school, to nominate to the said Visiting Committee such 
candidate or candidates, as after a proper inquiry and a regular esami- 



13 

ation, they shall In concurrence adjudge to be suitaljly qualified for ap- 
pointment. In every case in which but one candidate is nominated, the 
said Visiting Couimittce shall proceed to vote upon confirming the nom- 
ination. If the nomination shall be confirmed, the appointment shall be 
considered as made ; but if the nomination be not confirmed, another 
nomination shall be made and acted upon in like manner. If more 
than one candidate shall be nominated, the Visiting Committee shall 
proceed to make a selection by ballot, and the candidate receiving a 
majority of votes shall be appointed. The Chairman of the Visiting 
Committee shall give notice of the appointment to the Clerk, who shall 
enter the same upon the Records, and notify the person appointed. 

Sec. 4. The Instructors shall hold their ofBces for one year, unless 
sooner removed by order of the Board. 

Sec. 5. The assistants shall alwa3^s labor for the best good of their 
pupils, adopt and carry into execution the plans and wishes of the 
principal ; they shall be at their tables at least ten minutes before the 
commencement of the school, to see that their pupils go directly and 
quietly to their seats on entering the room. 

The assistants shall always see that their pupils leave the room in 
order, for recitation or recess, and that, on their return, they move 
quietly to their seats, and attend immediately to their studies ; they 
shall be responsible for the order of their pupils, who do not take 
recess. 

Good order shall be maintained in the respective division of each 
assistant, and she is responsible for the same as much as for proper 
instruction. She shall not leave her division or room, during school 
hours or recess, except in cases of necessity. She shall discipline her 
own pupils except in obstinate and extreme cases of disorder. 

Sec. 6. In every school the Register prescribed by the law of the 
Commonwealth shall be faithfully kept, together with all such Class 
Books and other Records as may be prescribed by the Visiting- 
Committee. 

Sec 7. At the close of each term the Principal of each school shall 
carefully fill up each Quarterly Return, of which a blank form shall 
have been furnished by the txecutive Committee, and shall personally 
deliver the same to the member of the Visiting Committee having special 
charge of the school on or before the day immediately succeeding the 
close of each term. 

Sec. 8. No teacher shall be absent during school hours or employ 
any substitute, except in the case of sickness and with the approbation 
of the Visiting Committee ; and no substitute shall remain in school 
])eyond a regular meeting of the Board without the approbation of the 
Board. 



14 

Sec. 9. No teacher shall keep a private school, or give lessons to 
private pupils until after the usual hour of closing the schools for the 
day. 

Sec. 10. Teachers shall have a general oversight of the school-houses, 
out-buildings, grounds, &c. ; and shall give immediate notice to the 
Chairman of the Visiting Committee, vrhenever any injuries have been 
committed, or repairs are needed. The pupils shall be held responsible 
for any damage they may commit to the school buildings or the grounds. 

Sec. 11. The teachers of all the schools of the city shall be required 
to keep a correct record of tardiness and absences in their respective 
schools. 

Sec. 12. It shall be the duty of all teachers to endeavor to improve 
themselves in their profession, and to avail themselves of all means 
established or approved by the Board for that purpose. 

Sec. 13. No teacher shall be relieved from the enforcement of the regu- 
lations contained in this chapter, unless, in extraordinary cases, the 
Chairman of the Board shall see fit to grant a special exemption. 

Sec. 14. Salaries. The Executive Committee shall report to the 
Board in May annually the amount of salary to be paid to each teacher, 
and no alteration in the amount of salary of any instructor shall be 
made at any other time, except by special vote of the Board. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

The School Year, School Hours, Vacations, Holidays, &c. 

Sec. 1. The School Year shall commence on the first Monday in March , 
and shall be divided into four terms, commencing at the close of each va- 
cation. 

Sec. 2, From April 1st to October 1st, the school exercises shall be 
commenced in the forenoon at 8 o'clock and be concluded at 11 o'clock. 
From October 1st to April 1st, they shall be commenced at 9 o'clock and 
be concluded at 12 o'clock. The afternoon exercises shall be commenced 
at 2 o'clock and be concluded at 5 o'clock throughout the year, except 
betvreen November 1st and March 1st, when they shall be concluded at 
4^ o'clock. The Saltonstall School, during the Summer months may hold 
but one session in the day, commencing at 8 o'clock and closing at 1 o'- 
clock. 

Sec. 3. The regular Vacations of all the schools shall be as folio vrs, 
viz: — The week including the last Vfednesday of May ; four weeks com- 
mencing on the first Monday in August; the week including the annual 
Thanksgiving Day ; three days immediately following the annual exam- 
ination in February. 

Sec. 4. The following Holidays shall be allowed, viz: Wednesday and 



15 

Saturday afternoons, Fast Day, May Day, Independence Day, and 
Christmas Day. 

Sec. 5. No other than the regular Vacations and Holidays shall be 
allowed, except on public occasions, by special permission of the Chair- 
man, or by direction of the Executive Committee. 

Sec. 6. There shall be a recess of fifteen minutes at the middle o 
each half day's session of the schools. 

Sec. 7. Whenever it shall seem proper on account of the extreme se- 
verity of the weather, the Principal of any school may hold only one 
session, to continue for five hours, instead of the two usual sessions of 
the day, provided that in each case special permission shall be granted 
by the Committee having charge of that school. 

Sec. 8. The door of each school room shall be opened and the teachers 
present at least ten minutes before the hour of commencing the exerci- 
ses ; and no scholars shall be admitted into the school rooms until after 
the arrival of the teachers. 

Sec. 9. Teachers are authorized to detain their pupils be3'ond the reg- 
ular school hours, for the purpose of discipline, or of additional instruc- 
tion, especially in the case of omitted or imperfect lessons. 

CHAPTER IX. 

Regulations and Discipline of the Schools. 

Sec. 1. All the schools shall be opened by reading a portion of the 
Bible, which, it is recommended, should be accompanied by repeating 
the Lord's prayer. 

Sec. 2. As punctuality of attendance is indispensable to the success 
of a school, it is important to maintain the principle that necessity 
alone can justify absence or tardiness. Sickness, domestic afiliction, and 
necessary absence from town, are regarded as the only legitimate causes 
of absence. Every other case must be considered as a violation of the 
rule, to be treated as a misdemeanor. 

In every instance of absence or tardiness a written excuse or personal 
explanation, stating the cause thereof, shall be required of the par- 
ent, master or guardian. 

Sec. 3. The discipline to be maintained in the schools, shall, as far 
as may be, be such as is exercised by a kind, judicious, and faithful pa- 
rent in his family ; and corporal punislmient shall be avoided, except 
in cases in which it is rendered absolutely necessary. 

Sec. 4. For violent or continued opposition to his authority, or for 
setting at defiance any of the regulations — the Principal may exclude a 
scholar, for the time being, from school, and report the case forthwith 
to the Visiting Committee having care of the school, for advice and di- 



16 

section. When the example of any pupil Is very injurious, and, in all 
cases where reformation appears hopeless, it shall be the duty of the 
Principal, with the approbation of the said Commitiee, to suspend or 
expel such pupil from the school. But any child, under this public 
censure, who shall have expressed his regret for his folly or indiscretion j 
as openly and explicitly as, In the opinion of the Teacher and Commit- 
tee, the nature of the case may require, and shall have given satisfactory 
evidence of amendment, and whose parents or guardian shall have prom- 
ised their co-operation in the due enforcement of all the regulations, 
shall, with the previous consent of said Committee, be reinstated in the 
privileges of the school. No pupil shall be admitted to the privileges of 
one school, who has been expelled from another, or while under sentence 
of suspension, unless by a vote of the Board. To promote the well-being 
of their pupils, it shall be the duty of the Teachers, as far as it is prac- 
ticable, to exercise a general inspection over them, as well out of school, 
as within its walls, and on all suitable occasions to inculcate upon them 
the principles of truth and virtue. 

Sec. 5. No scholar shall be transferred from one school to another, 
of the same grade, except on account of a change of residence, and in 
such case a certificate shall be furnished by the Principal of the school 
which such scholar had attended, stating the cause of the transfer, and 
the standing of the scholar as presented upon the Register ; and upon 
the presentation of such certificate, such scholar shall be received into 
the school situated in the district in which he or she may then reside, 
and shall be admitted to that standing in such school as he or she shall 
be found to sustain. 

Sec. 6. No child shall be admitted into any school without a certif- 
icate from a physician that he or she has been vaccinated or otherwise 
secured against the Small Pox ; but this certificate shall not be required 
of scholars who go from one school to another. 

Sec. 7. Any scholar who shall carry and exhibit any knife in the 
school-room, shall in every case be subject to the penalty of forfeiting 
the same. 

Sec. 8. The sale of books or other articles, within the school build- 
ings, by the teacher to the pupils, is expressly forbidden. 

Sec. 9, No subscription or contribution for any purpose whatever, 
shall be introduced into any public school without the approval of the 
Visiting Committee. 

Sec. 10. No person whatever shall read to the pupils of any school, 
or post upon the walls of any school building or fences of the same, any 
advertisement ; nor shall any agent or other person be permitted to 
enter any school, for the purpose of exhibiting either to teacher or 
pupils, any new book or article of apparatus. 



17 

CHAPTER X. 

Supply of Books. 

Sec. 1. It being provided hj the law of the Commonwealth (Rev. 
Stat. Chap, xxiii. Sec. 18,) that " the scholars at the town schools shall 
be supplied by their parents, masters or guardians, with the books 
prescribed for their classes," it shall be the duty of the teachers to 
direct the scholars, whenever they are in want of the requisite books, to 
make application therefor to their parents, masters or guardians. 

Sec. "2. If any scholar, upon such application, shall not be supplied 
with the requisite books, the teacher shall forthwith cause to be deliv- 
ered to the parent, master or guardian of such scholar, a notification 
reciting the requirement of the law, and requesting the said parent, 
master or guardian, to furnish the books therein specified, or in default 
thereof, to present in person the notification to the member of the 
Visiting Committee having special charge of the school. 

Sec. 3. The said member of the Visiting Committee, upon receiving 
such notification, shall confer with the parent, master or guardian, for 
the purpose of explaining the requirement of ' the laAv as recited in the 
notification, and of securing a compliance with it ; but if the parent, 
master or guardian, shall finally decline to comply with the law, and 
shall sign a certificate to that efi'ect, the said member shall give an order 
to the teacher, authorizing him to supply the scholar named in the noti- 
fication with the books specified therein at the expense of the city. 

Sec. 4. The teacher, upon receiving such order from the said mem- 
ber, shall supply the books therein authorized, taking care to record 
the same in the manner hereinafter prescribed, and requiring every 
scholar, to whom any book is thus supplied, to return the same as soon 
as it is no longer used, unless in the meanwhile the parent, master or 
guardian of such scholar shall deliver to the teacher the receipt of the 
City Treasurer, acknowledging the payment of the price of such book, 
in which case the book shall no longer be considered the property of the 
city, and the receipt of the City Treasurer shall be pi*eserved by the 
teacher, as a warrant for relinquishing it to the scholar. 

Sec. 5. The Executive Committee shall annually make a written 
contract with one or more booksellers for a supply of the books which 
it may become necessary to furnish at the expense of the city — stipu- 
lating therein the prices of all the books required to be used in the 
several schools, and pre^cril^ing the form in Avhich the accounts of the 
booksellers shall be kept and rendered. 

Sec. 6. The Chairman of the Visiting Committees shall be severally 
authorized to give written orders, from time to time, for the delivery of 
the books thus contracted for, to the teachers of the schools under their 



18 

care, and the several teachers shall give receipts to the booksellers, 
"which, together with the orders, shall be preserved as the vouchers of 
their accounts. 

Sec. 7. The teachers sliall be required to account for all books 
received by them from the booksellers by virtue of such orders. For 
this purpose they shall cause every book thus received to be numbered 
and labelled -with an inscription representing the book as the property 
of the city ; and they shall keep a record in which shall be entered the 
number and title of every book, the name of the scholar to whom it is 
delivered, the name of the parent, master or guardian of every such 
scholar, the date of delivery, the date of return, with such remarks as 
will explain the fact if it be not duly returned. At the close of each 
term they shall transmit to the Clerk a cojiy of such record, recapitu- 
lating therein the whole number of volumes received from the book- 
seller ; the whole number delivered for the use of scholars, and the 
Avhole number remaining on hand and not in use. They shall also 
therewith transmit the notilications, certificates and orders received 
from the Visiting Committees, and all other vouchers v.'hich may be in 
their possession. 

Sec. 8. The Clerk, upon receiving the records of the teachers, shall 
examine the same as well as the accompanying vouchers, and shall 
submit the whole for the inspection of the Executive Committee, who, 
if they shall find the records correct, shall approve and order them to 
be placed on file, or shall otherwise proceed as the case in their 
judgment may require. 

Sec. 9. At the close of each municipal year, the Clerk shall prepare 
a statement, exliibiting the names of all parents, masters or guardians 
of the scholars to whom books have been furnished at the expense of 
the city, and the prices of such books, and shall transmit such state- 
ment, duly certified by the Executive Committee, to the City Assessors. 



SPECIAL RULES 

OF THE 

FIRST VISITING COMMITTEE. 



FlSK, BOWDITCH, AND SALTONSTALL SCHOOLS. 

CHAPTER L 

Okgamzation and Duties of the Cojlmittee. 

Section 1. A chairman shall be chosen at the first meeting, who 
sliall preside at a]l meetings, and keep a record of proceedings. 

Sec. 2. Meetings of the committee shall be called by the clerk of 
the board, whenever desired by any member. 

Sec. 3. The schools under the charge of this committee shall be 
divided into three districts, as follows :"-lst district, Fisk School ; 2d 
district, Bowditch School ; 3d district, Saltonstall School. 

CHAPTER n. 

Text Books. 
The following couise of Studies is now adopted in the above Schools : 

FisK School. 

English. Emerson's Arithmetic 3d part ; Sherwin's and Day's Al- 
gebra ; Introduction to Geometry ; Davies' Legendre ; Worcester's 
Ancient Geography ; Worcester's Ancient History. 

Latin. Andrew's Latin Grammar ; Andrew's Latin Reader ; An- 
drew's Viri Romae ; Andrew's Caesar's Commentaries ; Folsom's 
Cicero ; Bowen's Virgil ; Krebs's Guide to Latin Composition. 

Greek. Sophocles's Greek Grammar; Sophocles's Greek Exercises ; 
Felton's Greek Reader ; Arnold's Greek Composition. 



20 

BowDiTCH School. 

Junior Year. 

I. Arithmetic, Geography, Grammar (Greene's Elements,) Head- 
ing, Spelling and Writing ; 2. Etymolog}^ (Lynd's) ; 3. Sherwin's 
Algebra : 4. Drawing. 

Middle Year. 

1. Algebra continued ; 2. Legendre's Geometry ; 3. Parker's 
Natural Philosophy, with experiments ; 4. Trigonometry, with its ap- 
plication to Surveying, Navigation, Mensuration, Astronomical Calcula- 
tions, &c. ; 5. Meteorology, (Brockelsby's) ; Reading, Spelliaig and 
Drawing continued; Wayland's Moral Science, or Paley's Evidences of 
Christianity — -a Monday morning lesson. 

Senior Year. 

1. Trigonometry, with its applications, continued ; 2. Book-Keep-' 
ing ; 3. Astronomy ; 4. Weber's Universal History ; 5. Stockhardt's 
Chemistry ; G. Constitution of the United States, Drawing and Spel- 
ling continued, Wayland's Moral Science, or Paley's Evidences contin-- 
ued — 'a Monday morning lesson. 

The several classes also have exercises in Mental Arithmetic, English 
Grammar and Composition, and Declamation throughout the course. 

Devotional exercises, including the reading of the Scriptures and 
prayer, occupy the first portion of every morning session. 

A few of the more advanced studies are varied, or pssrtially or entirely 
omitted, according to the ability of the class. 

Saltonstall School. 

Junior Year. 

First Term. Arithmetic, Grammar, Etymology (L-ynd's), History 
of the U. S. A., Reading, Writing, Spelling, Parker's Natural Philos- 
ophy, with lectures and experiments during the year ; Compositionj 
semi-monthly throughout the course. 

Second, Third and Fourth Terms,-— substantially the ssme as the first \ 
the variations in the exercises being such as may tend to a more 
comprehensive and practical knowledge of the subjects taught, v/ith less 
reference to the particular test books used, but v/ith no additional studies 
introduced. 

Middle Year. 
First Term. Stocfehardf s Cbem^istry, with lectures aivd experiiaents / 



21 

Algebra, (Sherwin's) ; Moral Science, (Wayland's) ; Reading, Spell- 
ing, and French, (Pinney's.) 

Second Term. Continuation of preceding, with addition of History, 
(Worcester's.) 

Third Term. History, Algebra, Map Drawing, Astronomy. 

Fourth Term. Continuation of preceding and general review. 
Wednesday of each week is chiefly devoted during this year to reading 
and spelling. 

Third Year. 

First Term. Botany, (Gray's), or Zoology, (Agassiz and Gould's), 
with lectures ; Astronomy, with lectures ; Algebra finished ; French 
(De L'Allemagne, Mad. de Stael.) 

Second Term. Botany or Zoology continued ; French continued ; 
Geometry ; Meteorology, (Brockelsby's.) 

Third Term. Geometry, Meteorology, and French continued ; Pa- 
ley's Evidences of Christianity. 

Fourth Term. Geometry and Paley's FiVidences continued ; Lec- 
tures upon History and Geology. Exercises in English Grammar, and 
Reading and Spelling occupy a portion of each week throughout the 
year. • 



SPECIAL PvULES 

OP THE 

SECOND VISITING COMMITTEE. 
ENGLISFI . GRAMMAR SCFIOOLS. 

CHAPTER I. 

Organization and Duties of tiik Committee. 

Section 1. A chairman of the committee shall be chosen by ballot at 
the first meeting, -whose duty it shall be to preside at all meetings, and 
to keep a record of the proceedings ; abstracts of vv'hich shall from time 
to time, as may be necessary, be presented to the whole board ; in his 
absence, a«chairman pro. tern, shall be appointed. 

Sec. 2. The committee shall meet regularly on the second Tuesday 
of each month, and special meetings shall be called by the clerk of the 
board when requested by any member, five members shall constitute 
a quorum. 

Sec. 3. The schools under the charge of this committee, shall bo 
divided into seven districts, as follows: — 1st district, Phillips School; 
2d district, Bentley School ; 3d district, Iligginson School ; 4th dis- 
trict. Hacker School ; 5th district, Epes School ; Gth district, Browne 
School ; 7th district, Pickering School. One or more members of the 
committee shall be assigned at the first meeting, to each school, in re& 
erence to which he shall perform the duties required by the general 
regulations. 

CHAPTER 11. 

Text Books and IMana cement or the Schools. 

Sec. 1. The following test-books shall be used in the Grammar 
Schools :— 

Tower's Speller ; 

Tower's Series of Readinj^ Books j 



23 

Swan's Disfci'icfc School Reader may be used instead of Tower's N. A. 
First Class Reader, at the option of the teacher ; 

Smith's Priinai'y Geography ; 

Smith's Quarto Geography; 

Pelion's Key to the Outline Maps ; 

Colburn's First Lessons in Arithmetic ; 

Putnam's Arithmetic ; 

Worcester's Elements of History, or GJoodrich's History of the 
United States, at the option of the Teacher ; 

Parlejr's First Book of History ; 

EuUion's Analytical and Practical Grammar ; 
" Introduction to " " 

Worcester's Elementar}^ or Comprehensive Dictionary. 

Sec. 2. The principals of the schools are authorized to malco such 
classification of their respective schools, and such regulations for the 
discipline and government thereof, as in their best discretion, they may 
deem expedient. 

Sec 3. Each principal shall keep the register required by law, and 
also a particular record of tlie scholarship and deportment of each 
scholar, particularly in the first class of the several schools. 



SPECIAL RULES 



THIRD VISITING COMMITTEE. 



PRIMARY AND INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS. 



Sec. 1. Chairman. At the first meeting a Chairman shall be chosen 
by ballot, whose duties shall be to preside at all meetings, to keep a 
record of all proceedings, and to present from time to time such 
abstracts to the whole Board as may be deemed necessary. In his 
absence the oldest member present shall perform his duties. 

Sec. 2. Meetings. Regular meetings shall be held on the Friday 
evening preceding the second Monday of every month, and special 
meetings may be called by the clerk of the Board at the request of any 
member. Four members shall constitute a quorum. 

Sec. 3. Districts. The Primary and Intermediate Schools . shall be 
divided into nine districts, constituted as follows; — 

1st District. Schools in Bridge and Williams streets. 

2d " Bentley Intermediate, Bentley Primary, and East Pri- 

mary. 

3d " Schools in Phillips Building. 

4th " Schools in South Salem. 

5th " Broad street and Federal street schools. 

6th " Schools in North Salem. 

7th " Fowler street and Mason street schools. 

8th " Aborn street school. 

9th " School on old Boston Road. 

Sec. 4. Special Committee. Each district shall be under the special 
charge of one member. 

Sec. 5. Text Books. All text-books in use in the schools on June 
1st, (1854) may be retained as long as those using them have need of 
them, but all new classes, or classes needing new books, shall use 
those named in the following revised list, viz : 

My First School Book, Tower's 1st, 2,1, and 3d Readers, Spelling and 



25 

Tliinking, Emerson's 1st Ai-ithmetie, Tower's 1st Aritlimetic, Smith's- 
1st Geography. 

Sec, 6. Exercises. Every scholar shall be provided with a slate, 
and employ the time not otherwise occupied in writing, printing or 
drawing ; the use of the blackboard for these purposes shall also be a 
frequent exercise, and it is recommended that singing be a regular 
exercise of every school session. 

Sec. 7. Oral Instruction. It shall be deemed an important duty of 
teachers to impart oral instruction, which shall occupy a distinct por^ 
tion of time of every school session. 

Sec. 8. Sewing. Instruction in sewing shall be given in the Girls 
Schools, during the first three terms of the year, and one afternoon of 
each week may be set apart for this purpose. 

Sec. 9. Qualifications. At the close of the examination in February 
all the members of the first class who have not passed a satisfactory 
examination in Tower's 3d Keader, Tower's Aritlnnetic, and the first 
40 pages of Smith's 1st Geography, will not be adjudged as qualified to 
enter the higher schools. 

Sec. 10. Classification. The principals of the schools are authorized 
to make such classification of their respective schools as they may deem 
expedient, subject, however to the approval or direction of the Special 
Visiting Committee. 

Sec. 11. Choice of Teachers. When any vacancy shall occur in the 
oflttce of Principal or Assistant the Committee shall be called together 
immediately, to act upon the nomination (by the special committee of 
the school) of a person to supply the place, and to recommend a suit- 
able candidate to the General Committee for election. 



EITRACTS 



FEOM THE LAWS OF THE COMMONWEALTH RELATING 
TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 



Duties of Teachers. It shall be the duty of all preceptors and teachers 
of academies, and of all other instructors of youth, to exert their best 
endeavors to impress on the minds of children and youth, committed to 
their care and instruction, the principles of piety, justice, and a sacred 
regard to truth, love to their country, humanity and universal benevo- 
lence, sobriety, industry and frugality, chastity, moderation and tem- 
perance, and those other virtues which are the ornament of human 
society, and the basis upon which a republican constitution is founded; 
and it shall be the duty of such instructors to endeavor to lead their 
pupils, as their ages and capacities will admit, into a clear understand- 
ing of the tendency of the above mentione-d virtues, to preserve and 
perfect a republican constitution, and secure the blessings of liberty, as 
well as to promote their future happiness, and also to point out to them 
the evil tendency of the opposite vices. — Rev, Stat. Chap.2S, s. 7, in part. 
Qualifications of the Teachers. The school committee shall require 
full and satisfactory evidence of the good moral character of all 
instructors, who may be employed in the public schools in their town, 
and shall ascertain, by personal examination, their literary qualifica- 
tions and capacity for the government of schools. — lb. s. 13. 

School Commitiee to visit schools. The school committee, or some one 
or more of them, shall, for the purposes aforesaid, visit each of the 
district schools in their town, on some day during the first or second 
week after the opening of such schools, respectively, and also on some 
day during the two preceding the closing of the same ; and shall also, 
for the same purposes, visit all the schools kept by the town, once a 
month, without giving previous notice thereof to the instructors. — lb. 
s. 16. 

Authority of Committee as to booh. The school committee of each 
town shall direct what books shall be used in the several schools kept 
by the town ; and may direct what books shall be used in the respec- 
tive classes. — lb, s.. 17. 



27 

Parents, d^c. to supply books. The scliolars at the town schools sltall 
be supplied by their parents, masters or guardians, with the books 
jiresci'ibed for their classes. ■j—iii. s. 18. 

The school committee of each town may procure, at the expense of 
the town, or otherwise, a sufficient supply of such class books, for all 
Ihe schools aforesaid, and shall give notice of the place where such 
books may be obtained, and the books shall be supplied to the scholars, 
at such prices as merely to reimburse the expense of the same. — lb. 
s. 19. 

In case any scholar shall not bo furnished by his parents, master, or 
guardian, with the requisite books, he shall be supplied therewith by 
the school committees at the expense of tlie town. — lb, s. 20. 

The school committee shall give notice, in writing, to the assessors 
of the town, of the names of the scholars so supplied by them with 
books, and of the books so furnished, the prices thereof, and the names 
of the parents, masters or guardians, atIio ought to have supplied the 
same. — lb. s. 21 in part. 

Sectarian,hooks prohibited. — The school committee shall never direct to 
bo purchased or used, in any of the town schools, any school books 
which are calculated to favor the tenets of any particular sect of 
christians. — U). s. 23. 

School Cormnit fee empowered io dismiss teachers. The school committee 
of any town is licreby authorized to dismiss from employment any 
teacher in such town, whenever the said committee may think proper, 
and from the time of such dismissal such teacher shall receive no 
further compensation for services rendered in that capacity. — Act of 
1844, ch. 32. 

Penalty for unlawfully excluding any child from school. Any child unlaAV- 
fully excluded from the public school instruction in this commonwealth, 
shall recover damages therefor in an actioii on the case, to be brought 
in the name of said child, by his guardian or next friend, in any court 
of competent jurisdiction to try the same, against the city or town by 
which such public school instruction is supported. — Act of 184:5, ch. 214 

Penalty for interrupting or disturbing any school or other assembly. — • 
Any person who shall wilfully interrupt any school or other assembly 
of people met for a lawful purpose, within the place of said meeting or 
out of it, shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail, not 
more than thirty days, or.by fine not exceeding fifty dollars.— .Id of 
1840, ch. 59. 

Concerning School Registers. No school teacher shall be entitled to 
receive payment for his or her services, until the register of his or her 
school, properly filled up and completed, shall be deposited with the 
school committee, or with such person as they may designate to 
receive \t.~Act o/1849, ch. 209. 



28 

Teachers to be examined in physiology and hygiene. All school teachers 
shall, hereafter, be esaminecl in their knowledge of the elementary 
principles of physiology and hygiene, and their ability to give instruc- 
tion in the same.— J.rt o/1850, ch. 229, 5. 2. 

Vacancies in school committee, how filled. Whenever vacancies occur 
in the school committee of any town or city in this Commonwealth, or 
when, from any cause^ any member or members are unable to act, the 
remaining member or members of said committee, together with the 
selectmen of said town, or the mayor and aldermen of said city, shall 
have power to fill vacancies in said committee; and the school return, 
signed by a majority of the committee thus constituted, shall be 
equally valid as if signed by a majority of the committee as originally 
chosen.— tIc^ of 1851, ch. 309. 

Concerning truant children and absentees from schooL Each of the 
several cities and towns in this Commonwealth, is hereby authorized 
and empowered to make all needful provisions and arrangements 
concerning habitual truants and children not attending school, without 
any regular and lawful occupation, growing up in ignorance, between 
the ages of six and fifteen years ; and also all such ordinances and 
by-laws respecting such children, as shall be deemed most conducive to 
their welfare, and to the good order of said city or town ; and there 
shall be annexed to such ordinances, suitable penalties not exceeding, 
for any one breach, a fine of twenty dollars. — Act oflSSO, ch. 294, s. 1. 

Any minor convicted of either of said offences, and sentenced to pay 
a fine, as provided in the first section of the act to which this is in 
addition, may in default of payment thereof, be committed to said 
institution of instruction, house of reformation, or suitable situation 
provided as aforesaid, or to the county jail, as provided in case of non- 
payment of other fines. — Act of 1852, ch. 283 s. 2. 

Any city in this Commonwealth may by ordinance, give jurisdiction 
of the offences arising under the several laws relating to truant chil 
dren and absentees from school, to the justices of the police court of 
such city. 

Any minor, between the ages of six and sixteen years, convicted under 
the provisions of an act entitled "an act concerning truant children and 
absentees from school," passed in the year one thousand eight hundred 
and fifty, of being an habitual truant, or of not attending school, 
or of being without any regular and lawful occupation, or of 
growing up in ignorance, may, at the discretion of the justice of the 
peace, or judicial officer, having jurisdiction of the case, instead of the 
fine mentioned in the first section of said act,' be committed to any such 
institution of instruction, house of reformation, or suitable situation 
as may be provided for the purpose under the authority given in said 



20 

first section, for such time as such justice or judicial officer shall 
■determine, not exceeding two years. 

This act shall take eiFect, in any city, as soon as it may be accepted 
by the city council of said city, by concurrent vote of the two branches 
thereof.— ^ci! of 1853, ch. 343, ss. 1—3. 

Concerning the attendance of children at school. Every person who shall 
have any child under his control between the ages of eigiit and fourteen 
years, shall send such child to some public school, within the town or 
city in which he resides, during at least twelve weeks, if the public 
schools within such town or city shall be so long kept, in each and 
■every year during which such child shall be under his control, six weeks 
of which shall be consecutive. 

Every person who shall violate the provisions of the first section of 
this act, shall forfeit to the use of such town or city, a sum not exceed- 
ing twenty dollars, to be recovered by complaint or indictment. 

It shall be the duty of the school committees in the several towns or 
cities, to inquire into all cases of violation of the first section of this 
a,ct, and to ascertain of the persons violating the same, the reasons, if 
any, for such violation, and they shall report such cases, together with 
■such reasons, if any, to the town or city, in their annual report; but 
they shall not report such cases as are provided for by the fourth 
section of this act. 

If upon inquiry by the school comaiitteo, it shall appear, or if upon 
■complaint or indictment under this act it shall appear, that such child 
has attended some school, not in the town, or city in which he resides, 
for the time required by this act, or has been otherwise provided with 
the means of education for a like period of time, or has already acquired 
those branches of learning which are taught in common schools, or if it 
shall appear that his bodily or mental condition has been such as to 
prevent his attendance at school, or his acquisitiou of learning for such 
a period of time, or that the person having the control of such child, is 
not able, by reason of poverty, to send such child to school, or to 
furnish him with the means of education, then such person shall be 
held not to have violated the provisions of this act. — Act o/'1852, ch. 240. 
55. 1 — 4. 

An act relative to Superintendents of schools. The several cities and 
towns in this commonwealth, by an ordinance of the citj^ government in 
said cities, or bj a vote of the qualified voters of said towns in legal 
to^Ya meeting, may annually require the school committee to appoint a 
superintendent of public schools, to have the care and supervision of 
said schools, under the direction and control of said school committee, 
the salary of such superintendent to be fixed as the city government of 
said cities or the inhabitants of said towns, at a legal meeting shall 
direct. Act of lHo4, c. 314, 5. 1, in fart. 



INDEX. 



Absence of Teachers 

of pujjils 
Admission of pupils to Grammar Schools 

to Fisls, Bowditch ai'd Salton&l; 
Advertisemenls in Schools prohibiled 
Annual Reports . . . . 

Assiflaiiis in Schools 
Books, supply of . 

i3oundaries of .Grammar Schools 
Bowditch School 

course of studies in 
examination for 
quahlications ol pupils . 
Chairman of the School Committee . 

authorized io suspend the Schools 
pro tempore . 
Clerk of the School Commillee . 
Commillees . . . .■ 

Contributions prohibited 
Corporal punishment 

Diplomas in Bowditch and Saltonstall Schools 
Discipline 
Election of Commillee 

of Teachers 
Examination annual 
Executive Commillee 
Fislc School 

examination and qualifscalions of cand 
Grammar Schools 

Holidays .... 

Intermediate Schools 
Laws of the Commonwealth respecting Schools 



;ill Schools 



Page. 

13 

15 

11 

9—10 

IG 

7— S 

13 

17—18 

11 

0—10 

11—20 

9-10 

9—10 

3-4 

15 

4 

4 

J 

IG 
15 
10 
15 
3 
12 
7 
4-5 
9-19 
9 
11,22,23 
14—15 
11—24 
20, 27, 2S, 29 



31 





Page. 


Meetings of School Commillee- . . . . 


S 


Out-buildings and Grounds 


14 


President of the Common Council 


3-4 


Primary Schools . . . . . 


IL 24, 25 


course of studies in . 


11,21,25 


teachers of, when and how elected 


12—25 


Quorum ...... 


S 


Recess . . . . . . 


15 


Regulations of the Schools . . . . 


15-10 


Rules, amendment of . 


9 


Salaries ..... 


14 


Saltonstall School . . . • 





course of studies in 


20—21 


qualifications of pupils . 


10 


examination for 


s-to 


one session of 


14 


School hours . . . . , 


]4 


School Year ..... 


14 


Scriptures, reading of .... 


15 


Sectarian books prohibited 


27 


Tardiness . . . . 


15 


Teachers, duties of . 


12, 13, 14 


Truants, law concerning . . . , 


28-29 


Vacations ..... 


. 14-15 


Vaccination . ' . 


16 


Visiting Committees .... 


. 6-7-8 


special rules of First 


19, 20, 21 


of Second 


22—23 


of Third 


. 24-25 


Yeas and Nays .... 


8 



LIBWRV OF CONORS 



f B U 354. .8 •_! 



